English not the first language for a MILLION schoolchildren

MORE than a million schoolchildren do not speak English as their first language, an increase of almost a quarter of a million in just five years.

More than a million schoolchildren have a first language other than English

Many services that previously offered support to schools with children for whom English is a second language have either been cut or radically reduced.

NUT spokeswoman

In the last 12 months, the number of children who speak English as an additional language has risen by almost 54,000, according to statistics published by the Department for Education (DfE).

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has called for funding to help support the teaching of these children to be protected from Government cuts.

A spokeswoman for the NUT said: "Many services that previously offered support to schools with children for whom English is a second language have either been cut or radically reduced.

"It is clearly important that schools have the help they need to ensure that their pupils are being fully supported.

"For this to happen funding for this specialist support needs to be ring fenced.

"The failure by this Government to do so is a short sighted measure which benefits no one.

"With the right support many of these young people go onto be very successful in our schools."

The NUT has criticised the Government for cutting support for multi-linguistic youngsters

The figures show that 1,061,010 million children in England's state primary, secondary and special schools, as well as pupil referral units (PRUs) had a first language that is known or believed to be other than English when surveyed in January this year.

The data also shows three in 10 primary school pupils are classed as being from an ethnic minority background, and one in five pupils speak another language at home.

This is up from 1,007,090 youngsters in 2012 - an extra 53,920 pupils.

In 2008, around 832,790 children spoke English as a second language, although this figure does not include those being taught in PRUs.

It means that the numbers have risen by around 227,000 in the last five years.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Many schools teach pupils whose first language is not English successfully.

"Through the school funding formula, councils can provide more support for pupils whose first language is not English for up to three years from when they first enter education."

There has also been an increase in the number of pupils in England who are classed as being from an ethnic minority background, with nearly three in 10 primary school children in this category.